How to Test Soil PH With PH Test Strips

Regions of the world that receive high rainfall amounts tend to have acid soils.

Soil pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of a soil, with a pH below 7.0 indicating that the soil is acidic and a pH above 7.0 indicating alkaline conditions. Soil pH affects nutrient availability and thus can greatly influence plant health. Various types of tests are available for individual homeowners or growers to test the pH of their soil. PH test strips are widely available, relatively affordable and, unlike soil tests sent into a laboratory, provide results almost instantly. Although generally less accurate than certain laboratory methods, strips provide a means to determine a rough range that your soil's pH falls within.

1

Place 1 to 3 teaspoons of soil in a small plastic or glass container such as a test tube or small beaker.

2

Fill the container with distilled water to the same level as the soil sample.

3

Stir, shake or swirl the sample vigorously for a minute. Following this agitation, let the sample rest for a minimum of 30 minutes before continuing.

4

Hold a coffee filter over the second plastic or glass container, and pour the sample through the filter to capture the solid soil particles but allow the liquid to pass through.

5

Dip the pH test strip into the solution in the second container.

6

Compare the color on the pH test strip to the chart provided by the manufacturer to determine the pH of the sample.

7

Repeat the test multiple times using soil samples from various areas in the garden or landscape and during different seasons throughout the year to achieve as accurate a pH estimate as possible by averaging the various results.

Things You Will Need

Teaspoon

Soil

Two small plastic or glass containers

Distilled water

Stir stick or similar implement (optional)

Coffee filter

pH strips

Warning

It is very important that you use distilled water to prepare the sample. If you suspect that the water is not neutral, test the water alone using a pH strip to make sure it has a pH of 7.0.